What were you doing in 1991?

I had been struggling for several years, since I graduated college. The place I had worked for a few years closed down, and I found a job at another place, but at less money, so it only made my situation worse. And then, that place closed down as well.

As it happens, I'd made friends with a regular customer, and he told me about a possible job opportunity with the university. I put in an app and contacted my friend's contact in the office. Fortunately for me, she was desperate to get someone reasonably competent into the position (the previous fellow hadn't survived his probationary period).

They took me on as a temp at first, not wanting to repeat the mistake made with the last fellow. I dove into the work, which was (honestly) not difficult or challenging, which was a nice change of pace after what I'd been through for several years. They handed me a stack of edits and changes on a butt load of graphics and asked if I could have them done in two weeks or so — I almost laughed, as I was able to knock out the work by the next day.

Once I'd won over the office, and more importantly, my supervisor, they made me permanent, and I was finally in the university system. I got a significant raise over what I had been making before. I had insurance for the first time, like, ever.

Away from work, I had reconnected with a group of fellow gaming geeks I'd known in college, and for the first time in years, I had a social group to hang out with. You sometimes don't realize how lonely you are until you actually have a social life again.

So, the fall of 1991 was a great time for me. I was genuinely happy and felt financially secure(-ish) for the first time since before I graduated. It was a good time.